FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM

Heather O'Connell, Public Information Coordinator
(941) 479-4629 Office
(941) 479-4631 Fax

When Cape Coral resident Elizabeth "Betty" Weidensaul died last year, she left a bequest of $30,807 to the "Talking Books Library." On Tuesday, July 24, the Lee County Board of Commissioners, accepted her gift to this exceptional program.

In her later years, this tiny lady with twinkling eyes was active in the social programs of the Visually Impaired Persons Center were she was known for reaching out to others. Betty was a long time patron of the Talking Books Library, a service of the Lee County Library.

Talking Books provides a wide selection of recorded books and magazines to people who need to "hear their reading" because of a disability, that prevents them from enjoying traditional books.

Talking Books will be using Weidensaul's gift to enhance the library's loaner collection of Assistive Technology. These devices, enhance the quality of life by making it easier for persons with disabilities to work, play, communicate, and live independently.

The collection includes low-tech items for persons with visual, hearing, and physical disabilities, such as text telephones (TTY), magnifiers, talking products, book stands and personal listening devices.

These loans enable children and adults to identify available products, evaluate comparable devices, and formulate questions for product vendors and health professionals.

For more information, contact the number above or Kathy Mayo, Community Access Services Manager, at 390-3234.